Left to right front row: Kelle Lynn - Nancy Levenburg - Suzanne Scholl
Left to right back row: Carla Hill - Melody Vrancken - Bari Johnson
"We, as your friends and neighbors, as foodies, cooks, world travelers, entrepreneurs, and customer relations and business professionals, offer to give you a fair but candid evaluation of our entire dining experience all while we enjoy time together on an evening out."
We liked the Two Tonys description on their menu and website so much that we decided to include it right here in our review in case you haven't been there!
"Two Tonys were born a few years apart but thousands of miles away from one another. Tony Moulatsiotis was raised in Kalamata, Greece and Tony Tague in Grand Haven, Michigan. Yet their destinies would eventually cross.
In Greece, Tony enjoyed a simpler life and grew to appreciate the unique flavors and spices of Mediterranean cuisine. His hometown is famous worldwide for its view of the Aegean sea, its rolling hills and the olive trees which bear the Kalamata olive and give us some of the best olive oil in the world.
Meanwhile, Tony Tague followed his love of the law and moved out east to the Washington D.C. and New York City area. Tony grew to love the big city steakhouses, but especially the small ethnic neighborhoods and their integral family restaurants, particularly New York's Little Italy. Tony loved the narrow streets lined with family restaurants that would entice you with the aroma of freshly baked breads and simmering marinara. You felt right at home when the owner greeted you at the door and offered you a glass of Chianti. Salute! Mangia!
The Two Tonys' lives and love for food from the olde world would meet and so was born Two Tonys Taverna Grille. We invite your family to join us for our unique world menu featuring our own family recipes for traditions of Greece and Italy, as well as our hand-selected steaks and seafood found in big city steakhouses. Take a trip to the Mediterranean for good times, good friends and a taste of the olde world at a unique neighborhood restaurant you can call your own."
Every one of us ordered a different entree whether it had a Greek, Italian, or seafood flair. We simply loved the variety we had to choose from on the menu. One of the nice things about dining out with a group of eight is getting to see what all the other entrees look like, and by sharing a nibble, we get a taste of what we can order the next time we come back.
After our dinner and dessert we motioned Tony Tague over to our table and told him we are writing a review on our dining adventure. We told our Guest Divas we don't announce our coming in advance, so he thought Joan just gathered a group of friends for a fun night out. We had heard he was a big supporter of the Katty Shack event by supplying a nice spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce dinner at St. Patrick's Church the night before the event. Lots of folks show up for the dinner to fuel up and buy raffle tickets to win some really nice prizes...like massages or tickets to an event.
We asked Tony to share his thoughts on the event and he replied:
"The Tri-cities area has been so warm and welcoming to Two Tonys since our venture began in 2006, and as a Grand Haven native, I felt welcomed back home. As a former career prosecutor and public servant, I have devoted my life to giving back to the community and want to do so in my new role as restaurateur. The Katty Shack event provides a perfect opportunity to give back in a way dear to my heart which is supporting victims of crime. I commend Natalie and Joan for taking a tragic event and turning it into a positive for the community. Two Tonys is a proud sponsor of Katty Shack and seeing the sense of community at our annual Katty Shack spaghetti dinner makes an Italian restaurant owner proud."
"The Tri-cities area has been so warm and welcoming to Two Tonys since our venture began in 2006, and as a Grand Haven native, I felt welcomed back home. As a former career prosecutor and public servant, I have devoted my life to giving back to the community and want to do so in my new role as restaurateur. The Katty Shack event provides a perfect opportunity to give back in a way dear to my heart which is supporting victims of crime. I commend Natalie and Joan for taking a tragic event and turning it into a positive for the community. Two Tonys is a proud sponsor of Katty Shack and seeing the sense of community at our annual Katty Shack spaghetti dinner makes an Italian restaurant owner proud."
Two of the entrees Chef Michel prepared for us on a busy Friday night!
What a pleasure dining with our Guest Divas ~ Natalie and Joan!
These awesome women are incredibly busy year round organizing what is now the 5th Annual Katty Shack 5K Memorial Run/Walk that is held in Grand Haven. 100% of the proceeds collected from the race benefit the Crime Victim Foundation in Michigan. They are truly passionate about the race, and especially knowing that hundreds of people are going to benefit from their efforts.
But there's a reason Katty Shack was started and we want to share their story.
The Katty Shack story (by Kelle Lynn)
An identical pair of sneakers was the catalyst that forged a strong friendship in the midst of a heinous crime for Ottawa county residents Natalie Kik-Brown and Joan Grillo in 2009. As a result of those sneakers and one idea, victims of crime have been supported in numerous ways.
Kik-Brown and Grillo, formed Katty Shack, a 5k and 1 mile run in Grand Haven in 2010 in honor of the quadruple murder victims in Wright Township on September 28, 2008. The victims included Kik-Brown’s daughter Katherine Brown, 18, and three Zimmer family members, Sharmaine Zimmer, 53; Jeremy Zimmer, 20; and Tyler Zimmer, 17.
The event is held in April to honor National Crime Victims Rights Week and the 2014 event will be held on Saturday, April 26th. Since its inception, Katty Shack has raised $37.5k with all proceeds benefiting the Crime Victim Foundation.
During the two week murder trial, Grillo, the Victim Rights Coordinator for Ottawa County, noticed Kik-Brown putting on her sneakers during breaks and taking long walks. Grillo had the same identical sneakers and they started talking about running. From there the Katty Shack idea was born. Katty Shack was the nickname for Kik-Brown's daughter, Katherine, from her cross country teammates at Coopersville High School.
“We had to do something positive to honor their memory,” said Kik-Brown.
“We prayed if we could get at least 50 people together we would be so happy,” said Grillo.
Kik-Brown has been a marathon runner since 1998 and has run in over 38 marathons in 26 states as well as Brazil, Germany, and Antarctica. Her daughter, Katherine, started running in the 8th grade in cross country. Every now and then they ran together and participated in a few 5k’s.
The Crime Victim Foundation covers all 83 counties in Michigan. Normally the perpetrator is court ordered to reimburse the victim, but sometimes certain expenses aren’t covered. “Someone might need gas money or hotel lodging for a trial and that would be considered,” said Grillo. “The foundation is a last resort for victims when all other means of support have been exhausted. The victim might need new locks, a new door, or a window replaced. This is for someone that can’t financially afford anything extra in their bills that month. There is an application process and a one-time grant in the amount of $500.00.”
“The Zimmer family is very much involved in this as well,” said Kik-Brown. “We have experienced a world broken beyond what is comprehensible. How could someone commit such a heinous act - a question on this earth that will never be answered. However, through all of this, families, friends, and communities came together comforting and supporting one another. Katty Shack is that and does that each year as we lovingly remember Katherine, Jeremy, Tyler and Sharmaine and others who have been victims of violent crime. We remember and honor them in an uplifting and joyous way with an event that, quite frankly, is great fun.”
Grillo and Kik-Brown said they are incredibly grateful for all the people that are involved with donations and sponsorships. “We couldn’t do it without all the support we get from the surrounding communities,” said Kik-Brown.
From the very beginning it was their desire for Katty Shack to be unique enough to continually draw runners, walkers, novice, and seasoned participants. They also wanted to add a special touch to the event that would set it apart. Grillo brought up the idea of pink shoelaces since pink was Katherine’s favorite color. As they continued to ponder the idea, they decided to offer a rainbow of colors to the race participants. The rainbow is the theme for Katty Shack and a symbol of the four homicide victims. Race participants receive rainbow shoelaces as a gift at the end of the race.
During the week of the tragedy, three rainbows were present on different days. Kik-Brown, the Zimmer family and friends felt it was a message from the victims telling everyone they were okay. Since then, several rainbows have appeared during past Katty Shack race weeks and in September recognizing the anniversary of their deaths.
“In fact, one year on the day of the murder a double rainbow appeared,” said Kik-Brown. “Each of the four is represented in the rainbow as a color. Katherine is pink; Sharmaine collected Precious Moments which represents many of the colors; Tyler loved farming so we think of yellow and green for him; Jeremy was an MSU fan and green was his color. They left this earth together and I think sometimes they come to visit and say hello as one in a beautiful rainbow.”
Joan Grillo with the dessert we split amongst all of us!
Joan: "When I was invited to be a Guest Diva with the Lakeshore Dining Divas, I was thrilled for a couple of reasons. First, the Divas were also honoring Natalie Kik-Brown, a dear friend with whom I’ve worked closely on the Katty Shack Walk/Run, which benefits the Crime Victim Foundation. Secondly, the Divas chose Two Tonys Taverna Grille as their dining destination. What a treat! Having dined previously at Two Tonys, I have always been impressed with the food, the service and the big-city atmosphere… right in the Village of Spring Lake!
We were seated at what Tony Tague said had been dubbed “The Mayor’s Table,” nestled amidst hundreds of bottles of wine. The restaurant and bar were lively and packed. The wine list is extensive with an impressive array of wines from both California and Italy. I chose to sample the Pinot Grigio. Our servers, Andrew and Rob, were friendly and attentive… always a treat when dining out!
Now on to my meal: I ordered Salmon Wellington – a special menu item that evening. This interesting take on the classic dish did not disappoint this Catholic girl who, to this day, doesn’t eat meat on Fridays. The presentation was fantastic – golden brown and perfectly crisp pastry surrounding a delectable and generous portion of salmon. The lobster cream sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the dish, and the chef certainly did not skimp on the lobster pieces. The salmon was served with al dente grilled asparagus… absolutely perfecto!
For dessert, the Divas decided to share one order of “Colossal Carrot Cake,” which Wendi (Two Tonys pastry chef) cut into eight pieces for us. Moist and delicious, this carrot cake truly is “colossal”!
Later in the evening, Chef Michel mingled about the dining room, so I asked him about the salmon. He told me that it was flown in fresh twice weekly, and cut to order on-site. (No wonder it’s so amazing!)
As you can tell, my evening was perfect: fun-filled atmosphere, wonderful service and lively conversation with a great group of gals (er, Divas)."
Suzanne: "As always, I decided to play it safe and ordered the "Two Tony's Salmon" dinner ($19) and opted to have it wood fried ... one of several ways it can be prepared...very tasty! I also chose the herb roasted potatoes which were great. However, I wish that I would have picked the rice instead as I think it would have suited the salmon better ... coupled with the delish vegetable medley! Over all, the place was busy and full of good energy making it just perfect to catch up with the Divas and to make new friends with our lovely guests!"
Nancy: "As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." Or, when in Greece, do as the Grecians!
It always amazes me that there aren't more Greek restaurants in the area. So, I decided to order the Gyros plate, which is basically a flat (unrolled) gyros sandwich and comes served with rice (topped by a red Greek sauce) and a dill pickle spear ($12.50). Since I love the tzatziki (cucumber yogurt) sauce that traditionally smothers a gyros, I probably should have requested a little more... it was THAT good!
The gyros plate is also served with your choice of salad - house, Greek or Caesar. I chose the Caesar, without croutons and with anchovies, which run $1.00 extra. But, as I've said before (and Melody concurs), what's a Caesar salad without anchovies!?!
A fun evening, especially since we all learned more about a wonderful cause and I got to play matchmaker in reconnecting two long-time friends."
Melody: "The Moussaka ($12) was excellent and a very nice portion. It came with soup or salad, and I had the Greek salad that had a very nice vinegar & oil dressing. The red wine I chose was the Noro D'Avola ($8), not too dry and not too sweet, just how I like it. I normally get a red Zin, but this was just as good. Over all it was a very pleasant evening; which came with a wonderful surprise. A dear friend (Marie McKendall - Professor of Management at GVSU), I haven't seen in over 15 years, was sitting at the table when I arrived."
Kelle: "I love the atmosphere of Two Tonys and felt whisked away by all the good energy in the restaurant that Friday night. I've been saying all along that Two Tonys has the best pizza in town, and I get the same one every time I go there... a gyros pizza on gluten free crust. It is scrumptious! However, I decided to try something new and different this time and went for the "Two Tonys House Chop" ($18). A part of me wanted to see if you could really cut it with a fork like the menu states. They brought out a big knife with the entree, which I never even needed. It was so tender and juicy, and irresistibly good. Plus I got to enjoy the rest of it for lunch the next day. Now after seeing all the other entrees, I know I'll be back to order a few of those too!"
Carla: "I'm a huge fan of scallops and order them often. When the waiter took my order and I mentioned that I'd pass on the starch, he quickly told me I could have double vegetables. Wonderful! The scallops were done beautifully and the vegetables were an excellent pairing. I was delighted that the well-trained waiter made it easy for me to order the perfect meal. The house Chardonnay was also a good choice."
Natalie: "The Salmon Wellington was beautifully placed on the dish with bright green asparagus atop and aside, topped with a lobster cream sauce. The puff pastry was stuffed with fresh salmon, cheese, fresh herbs, and baby spinach, certainly enough for two meals. The pastry was baked to a golden brown, flakey, easily cut with a fork. All ingredients easily complemented each other with perfection. A wonderful meal with a group of delightful ladies was enjoyed!"
Natalie Kik-Brown, Joan Grillo, and the Zimmer family are holding pictures of the four victims of the Ottawa County crime in 2008.
Photo (and Guest Diva photo) taken by Wendy Swenson in April 2013.
Note: People are already signing up for early registration for race day on April 26th, but you can register on race day too. The cost to register is $23 a person or family rate is $18 a person for three or more at the same address... AND... there is a pancake breakfast to follow! If you can't make the race, there are many ways to be a sponsor. Get your name or business name on a course sign that will be placed along the 5K course two weeks prior to the race for $20.00.
For more race day details contact Natalie Kik-Brown at jimnad@aol.com OR
Joan Grillo at jgrillo2010@hotmail.com
Diva Tips:
Two Tony's only takes reservations for parties of eight or more.
Treat yourself to a Two Tonys wood-fired pizza! You can get a small pizza with a gluten-free crust option at an extra charge.
Two Tonys Taverna Grille
723 E Savidge St
Spring Lake, MI
www.twotonysspringlake.com
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The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter. Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.
